"Just don't do anything to draw attention to it." Kara suggested. "Somebody-Else's-Problem spells are broken if you bring attention to whatever you are trying to hide. And I'm certain that civilians aren't supposed to be wearing enough weapons to lay seige to a small village with here."

Kara purchased the teddy bear and put it in a shopping bag.

"It's a good thing the automatic currency changer Rae lent me is working. Otherwise we'd be trying to pay for our purchases with Scooby Bucks."

Emran sighed.

'"I've got this." Chryse said, showing the others a credit card. "It's a Universal Express Card. It's good in most of Cable TV land and several alternate dimensions."

KaraS

For we are the music makers. And we are the dreamers of the dreams - Willy Wonka

"What are you doing Rag?" Jila had walked silently across the room and stood nearly behind Ragnar as she spoke. The big Viking's arms whirled round in circles as he tried to keep his balance as he squatted in front of the Christmas tree.

"Nothing." Ragnar answered way too innocently as he stood up to face Jila. "Absolutely nothing."

"I was just admiring Sandworm's wrapping paper." He bluffed. "And what are you doing sneaking around anyway?"

"Practicing." Jila had noticed the mugs of hot cocoa on the coffee and end tables and went behind the bar to see if there was any left. There was and Jila smiled as she poured herself a cup. "You know Rae. She knows when I'm not practicing my lessons and she tends to mentally tweak me about it. You weren't peeking were you?" Jila grinned at her friend. She knew the answer to the question but was just waiting for him to actually admit it.

"Of course not." Ragnar sat on the couch and frowned. He couldn't help it if Christmas brought out the outmost curiosity in him. "Why aren't you shopping with the others?"

"Not in the mood I guess." Jila sat down on the couch on the other side of the coffee table from Ragnar. "Damn Reality Goons have been after me again. You'd think they'd leave me alone already but since I have to make so many trips to Reality Land they feel the need to make my life miserable."

"I suppose it's the price you pay for having connections in two Lands."

"Yeah, but it's a pain in the Eema." Jila blew across the top of her mug and then took a sip. "I mean it's been how many years? You'd think they'd just let the scans and psych visits go for once. Especially since it's Christmas."

"I have a suggestion." Ragnar tossed a disc across the table which nearly made Jila throw her mug in the air trying to catch it. Ragnar chuckled. "Sorry about that. Put that in the player and I'll start a fire in the fireplace. Perhaps between that and the Christmas tree you'll find yourself in better spirits." And maybe she'll fall asleep long enough for me to have another go at those presents.

"That sounds wonderful."

Jila and Ragnar set the mood in the room and then sat back down.

"Very nice." Jila sighed and looked at the Christmas tree. Someone had done a great job in decorating it.

Emram wandered around, looking at the various stalls. In truth, he had nothing that he needed to buy, but he felt that he ought to have some excuse for coming along. Besides, after that self-righteous speech about not peeking at presents, he figured that the further from temptation he was, the better.

He spied Chryse ahead of him, and wandered closer, trying to sneak a look at what she was buying. It might, just might, be something for him...

He leapt almost out of his skin as a hand clamped down on his shoulder. He turned, and saw Kara looking at him, an amused expression on her face.

"So sneaking looks at presents before the big day is bad, is it?" she grinned, as she saw the sheepish expression on his face.

Emram sighed.

"Put me in a bag," he said ruefully. "I'm shopped. I just couldn't help it!"

Ragnar listened to the rythmic sounds of Manhiem Steamroller's Christmas cd and found himself humming along with the tunes. The songs were old enough to suit his taste with just enough modernization to make them enjoyable. It was fast becomming one os his favorites.

Jila sipped her cocoa and curled up in one corner of the couch. The fire crackled, and it was a rather enjoyable mood. He liked the slow times at christmas. As long as he didn't start reflecting too much they were very relaxing.

He kept one eye on watching the tension seep from Jila's shoulders and the other out for ArticKitten who was bound to show up some time. He just had to decide whether he would stop her 'peeking' or enlist her in a little of his own.

Sandworm came clomping down the stairs. Not angrily, he just had a tendency to clomp...

"Hey, Rag. What are you doing now? Oh, and I wouldn't touch those, you see, there is wild magic on them. If you touch them before the 25th, vines will grow around you until someone comes and releases you. So we'll all know. Sorry, pal. Where is everyone, though?"

Sikozu: "Do you have any plan of escape?"
Aeryn: "Run"
Sikozu: "Anything more detailed?"
Aeryn: "Run quickly" - Bringing home the Beacon

The Scoobettes heard the call for security and turned to see what the noise was about.

"Oh no!" Kay said looking at Emram with his weapons scattered around him.

She looked at Chryse and Kara. They had to do something to help him.
Kay knew only one spell. And it only worked for a few minutes. She started to freeze time so that they could think, but there were allready officers with guns drawn at Emram. What if she froze time, and then when it unfroze the guns went off? And Emram had only been a part of their group for a short while. She wasn't sure if he would freeze in time or stay with them.

"A white one." Jila's laughter had settled to a chuckle now and then as she thought of Ragnar lying on the floor tied up in vines. "She's an artickitten. Looks like a kitten with the mind of an adolescent. Gets herself in a Lot of trouble. Especially when her feline curiosity takes over. She's a sweetheart though. On the other hand, we've been warning Ragnar about his own curiosity factor for some time now." Ragnar crossed his arms over his chest and humphed. Jila chuckled again. Jila waggled a finger at Ragnar but continued to talk to Sandworm "Now that he knows about your little security device his curiosity factor has probably gone up ten-fold. Don't be surprised if you do find him wrapped in vines some morning."

"Jila, don't you need more cocoa?" Ragnar frowned, then winked and gave Jila the slightest of grins.

"Why yes as a matter of fact I do." Jila grinned and stood up. "Anything I can get for you Sandworm?"

(We are leaving the night after tomorrow to go to Texas. We'll be back the following Tuesday. I hope you all have a very Merry Christmas and a very happy holiday and stay warm and safe. (((((((((Scoobs)))))))))).Deb)

Puppies....They eat, they sleep, they play, they pee, they poop and they make us smile...

Kara, Kay and Chryse watched while Emran was hauled away by B5 Security Officers and all his weapons confiscated.

"This is going to get worse when they realize they don't have any records of him ever arriving on the station." Kara sighed. "And who brings great whacking guns with them when they are Christmas Shopping anyway?"